Mumbai police crack Rupali Ganguly theft case in less than 24 hours

In less than 24 hours, Mumbai cops have managed to arrest the maid who stole jewellery and cash worth Rs 71 lakh from the house of TV actress Rupali Ganguly, better known as Monisha Sarabhai

In less than 24 hours, Mumbai cops have managed to arrest the maid who stole jewellery and cash worth Rs 71 lakh from TV actress Rupali Ganguly's house. The woman was arrested late Thursday night from Vakola and almost 90 per cent of the stolen material has reportedly been recovered.

Confirming the news, an elated Rupali Ganguly said, "I thank the Mumbai police from the bottom of my heart. Mr Pawar, Mr Mhatre, Mr Taral, Mr Jhende and Miss Shabnam of Versova police station were brilliant and super prompt. They were there with me throughout the night and took care of me like family. They immediately dispatched teams all over. Nitin Patil and Mr Koli of crime branch cell cracked the case. Kudos to them. Mr Mahesh Naik of crime branch, Bandra was of great help too."

TV actress Rupali Ganguly

On Wednesday, in a scene straight out of a Bolly potboiler, a 30-year-old woman posing as a domestic help got herself employed at Rupali Ganguly’s Andheri house and swept the flat clean of valuables worth Rs 71 lakh, including Rs 6 lakh in cash.

The actress and her businessman husband had lodged an FIR with the Versova police station. Rupali said, “This woman, who identified herself as Sarita, appeared at my doorstep two days ago and requested for a job. When I asked for her ID proof, she said she will get it the next day and begged me to allow her to start work right away.”

The actress then stepped out of home along with her husband and baby, leaving the house in charge of her two regular servants and Sarita. One of the servants is believed to have left soon after. Police suspect Sarita then locked herself in a room, ripped open a briefcase containing the jewellery, wore it while concealing it underneath her clothes and walked out. She apparently told the other servant that she would be back soon, but vanished without a trace.

Rupali blames herself for the incident. “Honestly, it is my stupidity. My husband always used to ask me to put everything away in the locker and never employ maids in the house just like that,” she adds.

The case was being investigated by senior PI Ravindranath Pawar of Versova police station and cops had detained the two servants and the watchman of Rupali’s posh society, Bianca. The con woman was captured on CCTV cameras and was earlier seen at highrises in Charkop and Kandivili as well. The cops believe Sarita used the same modus operandi to loot unsuspecting, rich people.